Blog

Saving for Citizenship: Looking Back

Posted on Sep 26, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

In 2008, Opportunity Fund launched a new microsavings initiative: Saving for Citizenship. The first of its kind in the country, Saving for Citizenship was designed to help low-income Silicon Valley residents develop financial skills while saving to pay the application fees to become U.S. citizens. Did it work? Here's the final report.

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Big news! Big win for innovation, choice, and opportunity for California entrepreneurs.

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Opportunity Fund wins $3M Wells Fargo NEXT Award to Scale EasyPay

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Savings + Dreams = College

Posted on Sep 10, 2013 by Gwyneth Galbraith

Opportunity Fund leads the nation in promoting microsavings deposits that have helped thousands of youth attend college. Why do we do it? Read on.

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Speaking Up in Sacramento

Posted on Aug 16, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

Over 200 diverse organizations across the state have come together to push for the economic mobility of working families through the California Asset Building Coalition. This week a group of us traveled to Sacramento to visit with our elected officials and learn from each other.

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Microlending Employee Spotlight: Ana Loyda

Posted on Aug 12, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

An interview with Opportunity Fund employee Ana Loyda who works as a Customer Service Representative with our Microlending team in San Jose.

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Gustavo Lasala joins Management Team as Chief Financial Officer

Posted on Jul 15, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Seasoned industry veteran joins Opportunity Fund as new CFO

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Picking winners

Posted on Jul 11, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Guest post by Opportunity Fund supporter Sara Leslie, reflecting on her experience serving on the 2013 Selection Committee for Opportunity Fund's Start-Up Funding Challenge.

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Start-Up Funding Challenge: $500,000 awarded to 16 Bay Area Start-Up Entrepreneurs!

Posted on Jul 11, 2013 by Caitlin McShane

Sixteen Bay Area Based Companies Receive Loans as a Result of Opportunity Fund’s Start-Up Funding Challenge.

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June Client Spotlight: Ana Poe and 'Opportunity Funded' Paco Collars

Posted on Jun 24, 2013 by

Ana Poe started Paco Collars while serving as head trainer in a dog day care facility, where she worked with Paco, a certified therapy dog and the inspiration behind her custom-made leather dog collars. Ana wanted a leather collar for Paco that wasn't decked out in spikes or chains. Seeing a gap in the market for high-quality, fashionable leather goods for pets, Paco Collars was born.While Ana possessed…

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How the Farm Bill Affects Kids in California

Posted on Jun 17, 2013 by Gwendy Donaker Brown

This week, Congress is debating the farm bill, which proposes massive cuts to the SNAP nutrition program - by $20.5 billion over 10 years. The House bill would cause 2 million people to lose their SNAP benefits entirely, 210,000 children to lose free school meals, and 850,000 households to see their benefits cut by an average $90 per month. Of particular concern to Opportunity Fund, this bill would reverse a law in California (and in 35 other states) that allows people to qualify for food benefits even if they have a savings account (called “eliminating the asset test”).

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